There are many reasons to consider adopting a pet rat to add to your family!  Here are just a few:

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• Rats are intelligent. They are easily trained to do tricks, to come when called and to even use a litter box.

• Rats are clean. Contrary to popular myth, rats are very clean animals and groom themselves multiple times a day. Rats prefer to live in a clean habitat and they do not have a naturally strong or offensive odor.

• Rats have personality. Ask any rat guardian and they will tell you their rat has a distinct and unique personality just like we do! No two rats behave exactly the same way…even two siblings that grew up together are totally different. One may be outgoing and mischievous  while the other is more shy and subdued.  Some rats are very busy and curious while  others are more calm and lazy…just like us!

• Rats are affectionate. Rats are naturally social creatures and are happiest with  companionship. Rats quickly learn to trust us and bond with us and they want to be  around us. Just walk by a rat’s cage in the evening when they are awake and you’ll be  greeted by a pair of little paws on the door and a pink nose pushing through the bars to  come out. Rats enjoy our company and look forward to interacting with us.

 

Rats typically live between 2 – 3 years and will require basic veterinary care and check ups. There are a few common health problems that rats develop so make sure you have a “rat knowledgeable” vet before adopting pet rats. Rats are naturally social so they should always be adopted in at least pairs. Because rats are so intelligent, they do require daily stimulation and interaction with us and should not be left alone in their cage for days at a time. Did you know that rats can actually become depressed if ignored and not given an adequate amount of playtime outside of the cage? Please take a few minutes to read this Rat Care Sheet and learn all about the proper habitat for rats, good nutrition, safe bedding, and lots of other important information before deciding if pet rats are the right match for you!  This handy link is useful for seeing if your cage is big enough for your rats.  Also, the chart below shows some body language of your rat so that you can understand them even better!